Information processing apparatus, information processing method, and computer program

ABSTRACT

An information processing apparatus is disclosed. The apparatus includes: storing means for storing audio data and related information corresponding to the audio data; receiving means for acquiring electronic program guide information indicating programs scheduled to be broadcasted; and program selecting means for executing comparison processing for comparing predetermined related information corresponding to predetermined audio data among the audio data and the electronic program guide information and selecting, on the basis of a result of the comparison processing, a predetermined program from the broadcast-scheduled programs indicated by the electronic program guide information.

CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present invention contains subject matter related to Japanese PatentApplication JP 2006-341045 filed in the Japanese Patent Office on Dec.19, 2006, the entire contents of which being incorporated herein byreference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to an information processing apparatusthat is adapted to execute information processing using, for example,metadata (related information associated with sound information)attached to unit sound information equivalent to a music unit andinformation contents forming electronic program guide informationconcerning television broadcast and a method for the informationprocessing apparatus. The present invention also relates to a computerprogram executed by such an information processing apparatus.

2. Description of the Related Art

A portable content player including, as storage media that stores dataas contents, a semiconductor storage element represented by an HD (HardDisk) or a flash memory is widely spread. Such a portable content playercan store content data as, for example, an audio file and a video filein a built-in storage medium, manage the content data, and reproduce thecontent data stored in this way according to, for example, predeterminedreproduction operation. Sound of the content data reproduced in this wayis outputted from, for example, a headphone terminal included in theportable content player as a audio signal for headphone driving. Animage of the reproduced content data is displayed on, for example, adisplay panel included in the portable content player.

Today, services of a terrestrial digital television broadcast arestarted in Japan. As one of the services, a broadcast for mobileterminals such as a cellular phone called “1 seg” is also performed.Since the 1 seg adopts a digital television system, as an advantage ofthe 1 seg, a high image quality is stably obtained in an image ofresolution that is necessary for the mobile terminals. In future, it isexpected that the 1 seg will be further spread.

Under such circumstances, as a current portable apparatus and the like,for example, as represented by cellular phones in these days, combinedmachines having both a function of storing audio and video contents andreproducing and outputting the contents and a function of receiving atelevision broadcast in the 1 seg and outputting images and sound of thetelevision broadcast to allow a user to view and listen to the imagesand sound are known.

As a patent document related to the technique in the past, there isJP-A-2002-152639.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is desirable to realize unprecedented convenience and operabilityconcerning combined machines and the like having both the function ofstoring and reproducing audio video contents and the function ofreceiving a television broadcast as described above. For this purpose,it is desirable to effectively associate both the function of storingand reproducing audio video contents and the function of receiving atelevision broadcast in terms of a user interface rather than simplycombining the functions.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, there is providedan image processing apparatus including storing means for storing atleast unit sound information equivalent to a music unit and relatedinformation associated with sound information formed from one or morerelated attribute items for each piece of the unit sound information,electronic-program-guide-information acquiring means for acquiringelectronic program guide information having a related predeterminedinformation item for each of programs scheduled to be broadcasted,information-content selecting means for selecting information contentmatching a predetermined selection condition out of information contentsindicated by specific attribute items in the related informationassociated with sound information, and program selecting means forselecting, on the basis of a result obtained by executing processing forcomparing the information content selected by the information-contentselecting means and information content of the predetermined informationitem in the electronic program guide information, one or more programsout of the programs scheduled to be broadcasted presented by theelectronic program guide information.

In the information processing apparatus, first, the unit soundinformation equivalent to a music unit is stored together with therelated information associated with sound information, which is metadataof the unit sound information. It is possible to acquire electronicprogram guide information corresponding to a predetermined broadcast.

Then, after information content matching a predetermined selectioncondition is selected out of information contents indicated by specificattribute items in the related information associated with soundinformation, the selected information content and information content ofthe predetermined information item in the electronic program guideinformation are compared. On the basis of a result of the comparison,one or more programs are selected out of programs scheduled to bebroadcasted presented by the electronic program guide information.

The information content selected as matching the predetermined selectioncondition out of the information contents indicated by the specificattribute items in the related information associated with soundinformation can be set as information content having a fixed or higherdegree of importance for a user according to setting of the selectioncondition. The programs selected as a result of comparing theinformation content selected in this way and the information content ofthe predetermined information items in the electronic program guideinformation are programs related to the selected information content.Thus, the programs have a fixed or higher degree of importance for theuser.

As described above, according to the embodiment of the presentinvention, it is possible to specify a program scheduled to bebroadcasted having a highest degree of importance for the user on thebasis of the metadata related to the unit sound information.Consequently, for example, it is possible to associate management of theunit sound information and management of content information (broadcastcontent information) obtained by a broadcast. Therefore, it is possibleto establish a user interface having convenience and usefulness higherthan those in the past.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of the structure of a portablecontent player according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is diagram showing an example of contents of content data storedin the portable content player according to the embodiment together withan example of a directory structure of the content;

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of the structure of an audio fileassociated metadata table together with an example of specific contentsof the table;

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of the structure of an artistlist table together with an example of specific contents of the table;

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing an example of a processing procedure forcreating the artist list table;

FIG. 6 is a table showing an example of the structure of program unitinformation in an EPG together with an example of specific contents ofthe information;

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing an example of a processing procedure forautomatic scheduled recording setting;

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing an example of a processing procedure forexecuting scheduled recording;

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing an example of the structure of recordingfile associated metadata together with an example of specific contentsof the metadata;

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing contents of the artist list table updatedfrom the contents shown in FIG. 4 according to a result of a scheduledrecording operation;

FIGS. 11A to 11F are diagrams for explaining, using display forms in adisplay screen unit, an example of an operation procedure for shiftingto audio file reproduction or recording file reproduction with thedisplay of an artist list as a starting point;

FIGS. 12A to 12F are diagrams for explaining, using display forms in thedisplay screen unit, an example of an operation procedure for shiftingto audio file reproduction or recording file reproduction with thedisplay of a recording file list as a starting point;

FIG. 13 is a flowchart showing an example of a processing procedure fordisplaying and outputting an artist list screen;

FIG. 14 is a flowchart showing an example of a processing procedure forshifting to audio file reproduction or recording file reproduction withthe artist list screen as a starting point;

FIG. 15 is a flowchart showing an example of a processing procedure foraudio file reproduction responding to an audio file reproduction startrequest;

FIG. 16 is a flowchart showing an example of a processing procedure forshifting to recording file reproduction from a state of reproduction ofan audio file according to operation;

FIG. 17 is a flowchart showing an example of a processing procedure fordisplaying and outputting a recording file list screen;

FIG. 18 is a flowchart showing an example of a processing procedure forrecording file associated metadata processing;

FIG. 19 is a flowchart showing an example of a processing procedure forshifting to audio file reproduction or recording file reproduction withthe recording file list screen as a starting point;

FIG. 20 is a flowchart showing an example of a processing procedure forrecording file reproduction responding to a recording file reproductionstart request; and

FIG. 21 is a flowchart showing an example of a processing procedure forshifting to audio file reproduction from a state of reproduction of arecording file according to operation.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

An embodiment of the present invention will be hereinafter explained indetail with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the embodiment,as an example, an information processing apparatus according to theembodiment is applied to a portable content player.

The portable content player according to this embodiment is capable ofstoring and managing, as audio content, data of an audio file equivalentto a music unit and is capable of reproducing and outputting the storedaudio file to allow a user to listen to the audio file using headphonesand the like. Further, the portable content player is capable of storingand managing, as video content, data of a video file of a predeterminedformat including moving images and sound synchronizing with the movingimages and is capable of reproducing and outputting the video file in aform for allowing the user to view and listen to the video file.

The portable content player according to this embodiment is also capableof receiving a terrestrial digital television broadcast called 1 seg andis capable of reproducing and outputting images and sound of theterrestrial digital television broadcast to allow the user to view andlisten to the images and sound. With such a 1 seg receiving function,the portable content player is capable of storing and managing, as avideo file of a predetermined format, video content includinginformation on images and sound obtained by receiving and tuning in the1 seg. In other words, the portable content player also has a recordingfunction for storing the video content obtained by receiving and tuningin the 1 seg. The portable content player is also capable of reproducingand outputting a video file as the stored video content of the 1 seg.

In the following explanation, among video files, a video file havingvideo content of the 1 seg recorded therein is referred to a recordingfile and video files other than the recording file are referred to asgeneral video files.

For confirmation, as it is well known, the 1 seg is one of terrestrialtelevision broadcast services performed in Japan. The terrestrialtelevision broadcast in Japan adopts an ISDB (Integrated ServicesDigital Broadcasting-Terrestrial) system. In this ISDB system, a 6 MHzband allocated to one channel is divided into thirteen segments. Underthe present situation, twelve segments are used for a broadcast of HDTVcalled high-vision and four segments are used for SDTV of a normal imagequality. One segment is reserved for a broadcast for mobile terminals. Abroadcast service provided by using this one segment reserved for mobileterminals is called 1 seg.

Under the present situation, a size of a video transmitted by the 1 segis QVGA (320×240 pixels). This specification is low in resolutioncompared with, for example, SDTV. However, since the 1 seg is originallya digital system, it is possible to stably obtain a sufficientlyhigh-quality image if the image is displayed on a display panel of, forexample, about 2 inches included in a mobile terminal. Since a digitalbroadcast is performed, in the 1 seg, it is possible to transmit a databroadcast. It is expected that characteristics of the mobile terminalare effectively utilized by taking into account content of this databroadcast.

In the 1 seg, H.264 (MPEG-4 AVC) is adopted as a video compressionencoding system and AAC LC is adopted as a sound compression encodingsystem.

FIG. 1 shows an example of the structure of a portable content player 1according to this embodiment.

In the structure of the portable content player 1 shown in the figure,an external data interface 11 is a functional circuit section includinga hardware configuration for executing data communication conforming toa predetermined data interface standard.

The standard to which the external data interface 11 conforms is notspecifically limited. Under the present situation, examples of thestandard include USB (Universal Serial Bus) and IEEE1394. Besides thedata interface standard by wire, it is also possible to adopt a datacommunication standard by short distance radio such as Bluetooth(registered trademark).

A storing unit 12 is used for mainly storing content related data D1.The content related data D1 collectively indicates audio content(including an audio file and attribute information (metadata) thereof),video content (including a general video file, a recording file, andattribute information (metadata) concerning these files), and the like.

The storing unit 12 in this case also stores data of a program D2executed by a CPU (Central Processing Unit), which is one of sectionsactually forming a control unit 20. The control unit 20 reads the dataof the program D2 from the storing unit 12, expands the data in aninternal RAM (a memory unit 21), and executes the program D2.Consequently, a control processing operation by the control unit 20 isrealized.

In this figure, recording schedule setting information D3 is shown asinformation stored in the storing unit 12. As described later, theportable content player 1 according to this embodiment is capable ofrecording, with scheduled recording, video content of a televisionbroadcast by the 1 seg (a 1 seg broadcast). The recording schedulesetting information D3 is setting information for executing thescheduled recording of the 1 seg broadcast.

A storage device actually adopted as the storing unit 12 may be anystorage device as long as the storage device has so-called nonvolatilityfor holding data even if power supply is stopped and can easily secure anecessary storage capacity. Under the present situation, it is properthat an HD (Hard Disk), a flash memory, or the like is adopted.

A file, management information, and the like stored in the storing unit12 are managed by a file system employing a predetermined system.

A television tuner unit 13 is provided in association with a functionfor receiving the 1 seg broadcast. The television tuner unit 13 receivesthe 1 seg broadcast and obtains at least information as broadcastcontent (broadcast content information: video and sound data, databroadcast data, etc.).

Therefore, the television tuner unit 13 inputs a signal obtained byreceiving a broadcast radio wave of the 1 seg broadcast with an antenna14 (a reception signal) and performs tuning processing in accordancewith, for example, tuning control (channel designation) by the controlunit 20 to obtain a reception signal component corresponding to adesignated broadcasting station (channel). At this point, the controlunit 20 executes control such that a designated channel is tuned inaccording to tuning operation or the like applied to an operation unit23. The television tuner unit 13 in this case executes, concerning thereception signal component of the designated channel, demodulationprocessing for modulation applied during transmission from the stationside and obtains baseband signals for videos and signal, respectively.In this case, video signal data and audio signal data as the basebandsignals are compressed and encoded according to a predetermined system.

The control unit 20 inputs the baseband signals of the videos and soundobtained by the television tuner unit 13 as described above. Asdescribed later, signal processing for recording in the storing unit 12or reproduction and output by images and sound is applied to thebaseband signals.

An example of a form of the portable content player 1 according to thisembodiment for acquiring the content data (the audio file and the videofile) as the content related data D1 stored in the storing unit 12 isexplained.

The audio file and the general video file in the video content of thecontent related data D1 are acquired from an external apparatus throughthe external data interface 11.

As an example, a form of acquiring the content data when the externalapparatus is a personal computer is as described below.

First, the user connects the personal computer as the external apparatusto the portable content player 1 to allow the personal computer and theportable content player 1 to communicate with each other through theexternal data interface 11.

In the personal computer, for example, application software for storingand managing audio files and video files (general video files) isinstalled. When the portable content player 1 and the personal computerare connected, this application software is activated. The user operatesthe application software to arbitrarily select files out of the audiofiles and the video files stored and managed by this applicationsoftware. The selected file is transferred to the portable contentplayer 1 by communication through the external data interface 11. Whenthe application software transfers the audio file and the video file tothe portable content player 1 in this way, metadata corresponding to theaudio file and the video file, respectively, is also transferredtogether with these transfer files.

The control unit 20 of the portable content player 1 acquires the audiofile, the video file, and the metadata transferred and received throughthe external data interface 11 as described above. The control unit 20converts this data into a predetermined format according to necessityand, then, transfers and writes the data in the storing unit 12 to causethe storing unit 12 to store the data.

The video content as the recording file of the content related data D1is based on information of videos and sound as video content acquired byreceiving the 1 seg broadcast in the television tuner unit 13.

The control unit 20 performs processing for converting video signal dataand audio signal data of a baseband signal format, which are obtained byreception and tuning and demodulation processing of the television tunerunit 13, into a file format and, then, transfers the data to the storingunit 12 to cause the storing unit 12 to store the data. A file recordedin this way is managed as a recording file. For confirmation, thisrecording file also includes data of the video content of the 1 segbroadcast converted into a file and stored. The control unit 20 createsa metadata file in association with each of recording files stored inthe storing unit 12 and causes the storing unit 12 to store thismetadata file as well.

A block structure for reproducing and outputting the content data storedin the storing unit 12 is explained with reference to FIG. 1.

When an audio file of the content data stored in the storing unit 12 isreproduced, first, the control unit 20 reads out an audio filedesignated as a reproduction object from the storing unit 12. Thecontrol unit 20 inputs data of the read-out audio file, i.e., audiosignal data to a reproduction processing unit 22 provided in the controlunit 20 itself and executes reproduction signal processing in thereproduction processing unit 22.

The reproduction processing unit 22 is a section adapted to be capableof executing necessary reproduction signal processing for audio signaldata and video signal data as audio content and video content.

As the reproduction signal processing in this case, first, the controlunit 20 applies decoding (expansion processing) corresponding to acompression encoding format of the inputted audio signal data to theaudio signal data to obtain a digital audio signal with a predeterminedsampling frequency and a quantized bit. The control unit 20 causes thereproduction processing unit 22 to input this digital audio signal to anaudio-output processing unit 15.

The audio-output processing unit 15 in this case applies necessarysignal processing such as sound quality adjustment and volumeadjustment, processing for conversion into an analog audio signal (A/Dconversion), and amplification to the inputted digital audio signal andoutputs the digital audio signal to a headphone terminal 16 as a audiosignal for headphone driving. Consequently, the user can listen toreproduced sound of the audio file with headphones connected to theheadphone terminal 16.

In general, the headphones are applicable to two channels by L (left)and R (right) stereos or multi-channels including the number of channelslarger than two channels. Therefore, in practice, the portable contentplayer 1 according to this embodiment has a structure applicable to thepredetermined channel structure of two or more channels described aboveas a sound reproduction signal processing system (an audio reproductionprocessing system of the reproduction processing unit 22 and theaudio-output processing unit 15). However, here, for convenience ofsimplified illustration and explanation, these channels are collectivelyshown as one system.

When a video file (a general video file or a recording file) in thecontent data is reproduced, the control unit 20 executes readout of anecessary video file from the storing unit 12 and outputs the video fileto the reproduction processing unit 22.

As it is understood from the above explanation, the video file includesat least video signal data as moving images and audio signal data thatshould be reproduced and outputted in synchronization with the videosignal data. The video signal data and the audio signal data are formedin a compressed and encoded format. Thus, the reproduction processingunit 22 in this case applies decoding (expansion) processingcorresponding to compression encoding systems of the video signal dataand the audio signal data of the inputted video file to the video signaldata and the audio signal data, respectively, to obtain a digital videosignal of a predetermined format and a digital audio signal, areproduction time of which synchronizes with that of the digital videosignal. The reproduction processing unit 22 outputs the digital videosignal to a video output processing unit 17 and outputs the digitalaudio signal to the audio-output processing unit 15.

The video output processing unit 17 applies image quality adjustment,processing for conversion into frame image data for display, and thelike to the inputted digital video signal according to necessity. Thevideo output processing unit 17 writes the frame image data for displayin a display memory 18 one after another at predetermined timingcorresponding to a frame period.

A display unit 19 includes a display device of a predetermined systemand a drive circuit that drives the display device. The display deviceis driven by the frame image data written in the display memory 18 asdescribed above. Consequently, a reproduced image (a moving image) ofthe video file is displayed on a display panel as the display unit 19.

At the same time, the audio-output processing unit 15 applies signalprocessing same as that explained above to the inputted digital audiosignal and outputs the digital audio signal from the headphone terminal16 as a audio signal for headphone driving. The user of the portablecontent player 1 according to this embodiment can view and listen to thereproduced image and the reproduced sound of the video content bylistening to the reproduced sound with the headphones while viewing thedisplay panel of a main body of the portable content player 1.

As a basic 1 seg associated function, the portable content player 1according to this embodiment is also capable of outputting the videocontent, which is obtained by receiving and tuning in and demodulatingthe 1 seg broadcast with the television tuner unit 13, as images andsound on a real time basis.

For this purpose, the portable content player 1 only has to input thevideo signal data and the audio signal data in the baseband format asthe video content, which is obtained by demodulating the 1 seg broadcastin the television tuner unit 13, to the reproduction processing unit 22,execute decoding processing corresponding to the compression encodingsystems of the respective data, and cause the video output processingunit 17 and the audio-output processing unit 15 to output the videosignal data and the audio signal data as outputs after demodulation,respectively. Thereafter, the video output processing unit 17, thedisplay memory 18, the display unit 19, and the audio-output processingunit 15 execute operations same as those during video file reproductiondescribed above. In this way, the user can view and listen to images andsound of the 1 seg broadcast currently being received and tuned in withthe display panel and the headphones.

In the digital television broadcast, as it is well known, it is possibleto multiplex and transmit data of a data broadcast, data of a closedcaption broadcast, and the like together with a main broadcast(information of videos and sound as video content). It is also possibleto transmit data of an EPG (Electronic Program Guide) (EPG data)including information concerning programs scheduled to be broadcasted.

The portable content player 1 according to this embodiment is alsoapplicable to the data broadcast, the closed caption broadcast,reception of the EPG data, and decoding and output of the EPG data.

For example, the portable content player 1 receives the data broadcast,the closed caption broadcast, or the EPG data with the television tunerunit 13 and acquires data of the data broadcast, closed caption data, orthe EPG data. In this case, the control unit 20 captures the data.

The control unit 20 executes, concerning the data of the data broadcast,decode processing corresponding to a data format of the data. In thiscase, when the data of the data broadcast is display data, the controlunit 20 creates display image data from the data for the data broadcastafter the decode processing and writes the display image data in thedisplay memory 18. Consequently, for example, images of the databroadcast are displayed on a display screen of the display unit 19. Whenthe data for the data broadcast is, for example, control data for atwo-way service, the control unit 20 executes processing correspondingto this control data.

When the data for the closed caption broadcast is received and acquired,the control unit 20 inputs and decode this data. The decoded closedcaption data is, for example, text data whose predetermined maximumnumber of characters is defined. The control unit 20 interprets thistext data to create display image data such that a caption is displayedin a predetermined position together with a main image (e.g., a videocontent image of the 1 seg broadcast) and writes the display image datain the display memory 18. As a result, an image including the main imageand the caption is displayed on the display screen of the display unit19.

When the EPG data is received and acquired, for example, after arrangingthe EPG data in a predetermined format, the control unit 20 writes andstores the EPG data in the memory unit 21. The memory unit 21 includes astorage device such as a DRAM or an SDRAM. Besides the EPG data, variouskinds of information and data that the control unit 20 (the CPU) shoulduse are stored therein. The CPU loads a program to the memory unit 21and executes the program and uses the memory unit 21 as a work area ofthe CPU.

For example, when the EPG data should be displayed on the display unit19 according to user operation or the like, the control unit 20 readsout the EPG data stored in the memory 21, creates display image data asa program list reflecting content of the EPG data, and writes thedisplay image data in the display memory 18.

In this embodiment, as described later, automatic scheduled recording ofthe 1 seg broadcast linked to metadata of an audio file is possible. Inperforming the automatic scheduled recording, the EPG data is used.

For example, in practice, the control unit 20 mainly includes amicrocomputer system including a CPU, a RAM (the memory unit 21), and aROM as hardware. The control unit 20 executes control processing in theportable content player 1.

Various operators included in the portable content player 1 and asection that generates and outputs a signal (an operation signal)corresponding to operation applied to these operators are collectivelyshown as the operation unit 23. The control unit 20 executes necessarycontrol processing according to the operation signal inputted from theoperation unit 23.

The content related data D1 among the data stored in the storing unit 12is explained with reference to FIG. 2. In FIG. 2, various kinds ofinformation belonging to the content related data D1, details of files,and examples of management forms of the files are shown in a directorystructure. In other words, the content related data D1 stored in thestoring unit 12 is managed using a directory structure defined, forexample, as shown in FIG. 2 under a predetermined file system.

A content related data folder is placed in a directory of a top-levellayer in FIG. 2. This content related data folder is placed in apredetermined directory layer in a volume as the storing unit 12.

Right below the content related data folder, an audio content folder anda video content folder are placed.

In a directory right below the audio content folder, an audio filefolder and an audio file metadata table are placed.

In the audio file folder, one or more audio files are stored asindicated by audio file 1, an audio file 2, and the like in the figure.For confirmation, the audio files are acquired by the portable contentplayer 1 from the external apparatus with data communication through theexternal data interface 11, for example, as explained above.

The audio file metadata table is a table of predetermined metadata(additional information and attribute information) concerning the audiofiles stored in the audio file folder. An example of content ofattribute items and an example of the structure of the audio filemetadata table are described later. The audio file metadata table inthis case is managed as one file unit by, for example, a file system.

In a directory right below the video content folder, three folders,i.e., a general video file folder, a recording file folder, and arecording file associated metadata folder are placed.

In the general video file folder, one or more general video files arestored as indicated by general video files 1, 2, and the like in thefigure.

In the recording file folder, one or more recording files are stored asindicated by recording files 1, 2, and the like in the figure.

In the recording file associated metadata folder, one or more recordingfile associated metadata are stored as indicated by recording fileassociated metadata 1, 2, and the like in the figure.

The respective recording file associated metadata correspond to therecording files stored in the recording file folder in a one to onerelation. Therefore, recording file associated metadata in the numbersame as that of the recording files stored in the recording file folderare stored in the recording file associated metadata folder. Forexample, in FIG. 2, the recording file associated metadata 1, 2, and thelike correspond to the recording files 1, 2, and the like, respectively.The respective recording file associated metadata have contentsrepresenting predetermined attributes concerning the recording filescorresponding thereto.

Contents of information types and examples of management forms belongingto the content related data D1 are not limited to those shown in thefigure.

For example, in practice, metadata may be prepared in association withthe general video files (general video file associated metadata). Adirectory (a folder) in which the general video file associated metadatamay be placed in the video content folder.

For example, it is also possible to include, as content data, stillimage files as photographs and the like together with the audio filesand the video files. Thus, in such a case, a still image file folder isadditionally placed in, for example, a layer right below the contentrelated data folder. The still image file only has to be stored in thisstill image file folder.

FIG. 3 shows an example of the structure of the audio file metadatatable (related information associated with sound information), which isstored in the audio content folder in FIG. 2, together with an exampleof contents of the information.

In the audio file metadata table shown in the figure, first, informationof a music title, an artist name, an artist ID, and a file associatedrating point (importance information) is associated with one audio fileID as attribute items to form a table list corresponding to one audiofile. Then, such a table list is arrayed in association with each of theaudio files stored in the audio folder.

The audio file ID is an identifier attached to be peculiar to each ofthe audio files. The music title indicates a title of music for theaudio file corresponding thereto. The artist name indicates a name of anartist who plays the music as the corresponding audio file. The artistID is an identifier allocated to be peculiar to each of artist names. Inthis case, the artist ID and the artist name correspond to each other ina one to one relation and, as a result, indicate an identical object.However, the artist ID is used for internal processing such as retrievalof the artist name and the artist name is used in presenting the artistname to the user through a UI (User Interface) such as display.

The file associated rating point is attached to each of the audio files.A higher rating point of the file associated rating point indicates thata degree of importance (a degree of preference) for the user concerningmusic as an audio file corresponding thereto is higher.

For example, in a management application for audio content running onthe external apparatus as a transfer source of the audio file or theportable content player 1 according to this embodiment, degrees ofimportance in the number of ranks set in advance are set for music asaudio files stored and managed by the management application or theportable content player 1. The degrees of importance once set can bechanged. The degrees of importance set in this way are indicated by thenumbers of symbols such as stars corresponding to the set degrees ofimportance on, for example, a GUI screen formed by the managementapplication or a screen of the portable content player 1. The fileassociated rating points are the set degrees of importance representedby numerical values as rating points. Concerning a method of giving therating points, for example, when the degrees of importance are set infive ranks, fixed values only have to be integrated in such a manner as1, 2, 3, 4, and 5, 5, 10, 15, 20, and 25, or 10, 20, 30, 40, and 50 froma lowest degree of importance to a highest degree of importance.

An example of specific contents of information of respective attributeitems of the audio file metadata table shown in FIG. 3 is explained. Asaudio file IDs, M01, M02, M03, M04, M05, and M06 are arrayed. Thisindicates that there are six audio files in total and, therefore, thesix audio files are stored in the audio file folder.

In a table list of the audio file indicated by the audio file ID=M01(equivalent to one row in which an attribute item corresponding to oneaudio file in a table structure in the figure is arrayed), a musictitle=ABCD, an artist name=artist A, an artist ID=A01, and a fileassociated rating point=10 are shown.

In an audio file of the audio file ID=M02, a music title=EFGH, an artistname=artist A, an artist ID=A01, and a file associated rating point=20are shown.

In an audio file of the audio file ID=M03, a music title=IJKL, an artistname=artist A, an artist ID=A01, and a file associated rating point=0are shown.

In an audio file of the audio file ID=M04, a music title=MNOP, an artistname=artist B, an artist ID=A02, and a file associated rating point=20are shown.

In an audio file of the audio file ID=M05, a music title=QRST, an artistname=artist C, an artist ID=A03, and a file associated rating point=10are shown.

In an audio file of the audio file ID=M06, a music title=UVWX, an artistname=artist C, an artist ID=A03, and a file associated rating point=0are shown.

New registration of the audio files in the audio file metadata table isperformed when transfer of the audio files is received from, forexample, an audio file management application running on the externalapparatus through the external data interface 11 and the audio files arestored in the storing unit 12.

In other words, the audio file management application manages the audiofiles as music in association with various metadata such as attributeitems shown in the audio file metadata table in FIG. 3. When an audiofile as audio content is transferred from the audio file managementapplication to the portable content player 1 and stored therein, atleast information of an audio file ID, a music title, an artist name, anartist ID, and a file associated rating point necessary for creating theaudio file metadata table in FIG. 3 is also transferred as attributeinformation concerning the audio file to be transferred. The portablecontent player 1 creates a new table list using these pieces ofinformation received together with the audio file and additionallyregisters the table list in the audio file metadata table.

When setting for changing a rating (a degree of importance) for music(an audio file) is performed by, for example, operation on the portablecontent player 1, a value of the file associated rating pointcorresponding to the audio file in the audio file metadata table isrewritten.

The portable content player 1 according to this embodiment creates anartist list table using the audio file metadata table and a recordingfile associated metadata of content described later and store the artistlist table in a storage area of the memory unit 21 or the like.

An example of a structure form and contents of an artist list is shownin FIG. 4. The contents of the artist list shown in FIG. 4 are createdusing the audio file metadata table of the contents shown in FIG. 3.

As shown in FIG. 4, an artist list table is formed such that, for onetable list, an artist name, an artist associated rating point, anassociated audio file, and an associated recording file are associatedwith an artist ID. In other words, the artist list table is informationformed by arraying, with artists as bases, attribute items correspondingto each of the artists.

The artist ID of the artist list table in this case is acquired byretrieving an artist ID registered in the audio file metadata table. Inthe audio file metadata table in FIG. 3, there are six audio files intotal and there are three artist IDs, A01 (artist A), A02 (artist B),and A03 (artist C). Three table lists corresponding to the artist IDsA01, A02, and A03 are created in FIG. 4.

In the table list of the artist ID=A01, an artist name=artist A, anartist associated rating point=10, associated audio files=M01, M02, andM03, and an associated recording file=none are shown.

The artist name=artist A in this table list is obtained by retrieving anartist name corresponding to the artist ID=A01 from the audio filemetadata table in FIG. 3.

The artist associated rating point (sub-information on a degree ofimportance) is a rating point representing a degree of importance ofeach of artists for the user. A larger value of the artist associatedrating point indicates a higher degree of importance. A method ofobtaining a value of the artist associated rating point is describedlater.

The associated audio file indicates a list of audio files having theartist ID (the artist name) of the table list as an attribute. In thetable of the artist ID=A01 in FIG. 4, audio file IDs=M01, M02, and M03are shown as associated audio files.

This list is obtained by retrieving an audio file ID of a list tablehaving content of the artist ID=A01 from the audio file metadata tablein FIG. 3.

The associated recording file indicates a list of recording files havingthe artist ID of the table list as an attribute. The table list of theartist ID=A01 in FIG. 4 indicates that a corresponding recording file isnot present, i.e., a recording file having the artist ID=A01 (artist A)as an attribute is currently not stored in the storing unit 12.

An example of a procedure for registering the associated recording fileis described later.

The artist associated rating point is a rating point representing adegree of importance of each of artists for the user. A larger value ofthe artist associated rating point indicates a higher degree ofimportance.

As explained above, it is possible to set the file associated ratingpoint associated with the audio file according to operation on the audiofile management application running on the external apparatus and theportable content player 1. However, in this embodiment, a value of theartist associated rating point is automatically calculated rather thanbeing calculated by user operation.

For example, the artist associated rating point corresponding to thetable list of the artist ID=A01 is 10. This is calculated by analgorithm described below.

In FIG. 3, audio files having the artist ID=A01 as an attribute areaudio files of the audio file IDs=M01, M02, and M03. An average ofrating points of these audio files is calculated as (10+20+0)/3=10. Theaverage calculated in this way is set as an artist associated ratingpoint in the table list of the artist ID=A01.

In other words, the artist associated ratting point is, from the audiofile metadata table, an average of file associated rating points of alltable lists having a common artist ID (artist name) as an attributeitem.

The artist associated rating point may be set by user operation in thesame manner as the setting of the file associated rating point. In otherwords, the user needs to set the artist associated rating point inaddition to the file associated rating point. It is likely that,depending on a user, this makes operation complicated and confuses theuser. Thus, in this embodiment, taking into account such a problem, theartist associated rating point can be automatically set by, for example,the procedure and the algorithm described above rather than usersetting.

Various other procedures and algorithms for automatically setting theartist associated rating points are conceivable. However, this point isdescribed later.

In FIG. 4, in a table list of the artist ID=A02 following an artistID=A01, an artist name=artist B, an artist associated rating point=20,an associated audio file=M04, and an associated recording file=none areshown.

In the audio file metadata table in FIG. 3, an artist name correspondingto the artist ID=A02 is artist B. Since an audio file having the artistID=A02 as an attribute is only an audio file of the audio file ID=M04,the associated audio file=M04. Since a file associated rating point inthis table list is 20, the artist associated rating point=20. It isindicated that, as in the above case, an associated recording file iscurrently not present (not stored in the storing unit 12).

In a table list of the artist ID=A03, an artist name=artist C, an artistassociated rating point=5, associated audio files=M05 and M06, and anassociated recording file=none are shown.

In the audio file metadata table in FIG. 3, an artist name correspondingto the artist ID=A03 is artist C. Audio files having the artist ID=A03as an attribute are two audio files of audio file IDs=M05 and M06. Thus,audio file IDs M05 and M06 are stored in the associated audio file. Asfile associated rating points in the table lists of these audio files,10 and 0 are stored, respectively. Thus, the artist associated ratingpoint=5 (=(10+0)/2). In the associated recording file, as in the abovecase, a recording file is not stored in this case. Therefore, it isindicated that a recording file is currently not present (not stored inthe storing unit 12).

Since the portable content player 1 according to this embodiment has thetable information such as the audio file metadata table and the artistlist table, the portable content player 1 manages audio files as audiocontents.

A flowchart in FIG. 5 indicates an example of a processing procedure forcreating the artist list table shown in FIG. 4.

The procedure shown in the figure can be regarded as being realized, forexample, when the CPU as the hardware configuration section of thecontrol unit 20 in FIG. 1 loads and executes the program (D2) stored inthe storing unit 12. The same holds true for respective flowcharts(FIGS. 7, 8, and 13 to 21) explained below.

For example, when the portable content player 1 according to thisembodiment is activated, in a process of predetermined activationprocess, a procedure for creating an artist list table according to FIG.5 is executed.

In FIG. 5 in this case, first, in step S1, the control unit 20 reads theaudio file metadata table stored in the storing unit 12 and, then, sortsthe audio file metadata table in order of artist IDs in list tableunits. This sort makes it easy to perform, for example, retrieval ofinformation items for creation of an artist list table after that. Forexample, in the audio file metadata table in FIG. 3, the artist IDs arearrayed in order of A01, A01, A01, A02, A03, and A03 from the top to thebottom. This is the same as a state in which list tables are sorted inorder of the artist IDs.

In step S2, the control unit 20 substitutes 1 in a variable “a”indicating processing order of the artist IDs and shifts to proceduresin step S3 and subsequent steps.

In step S3, the control unit 20 refers to list tables of all audio filescorresponding to an “a”th artist ID from the audio file metadata table.For example, in the audio file metadata table in FIG. 3, details of theartist IDs of the six table lists are A01, A01, A01, A02, A03, and A03.Thus, as content classifications of the artist IDs, there are threeartist IDs, A01, A02, and A03. Here, when processing of the respectiveartist IDs is performed in order of A01, A02, and A03, in the case ofthe variable “a”=1, processing for the artist ID=A01 is performed. Thus,the control unit 20 refers to the table lists of the audio file IDs=M01,M02, and M03.

In step S3, first, the control unit 20 specifies contents of artistnames from the table list referred to and collects contents of audiofile IDs and file associated rating points from the respective tables.The control unit 20 holds contents of attribute items “artist name”,“audio file ID”, and “file associated rating point”.

In step S4, the control unit 20 calculates an average α of values(rating points) collected as file associated rating points among theattribute items collected in step S3. In step S5, the control unit 20holds the average α as an artist associated rating point correspondingto the “a”th artist ID.

In step S6, the control unit 20 sequentially accesses recording fileassociated metadata managed as being stored in the recording fileassociated metadata folder in the storing unit 12. The control unit 20refers to scheduling key information, which is one of information itemsof the accessed recording file associated metadata, for each of therecording file associated metadata. In the explanations heretofore, thestructure of recording file associated metadata is not explained. Thisis explained later with reference to FIG. 9.

As explained below with reference to FIG. 9, when data is stored in anitem of scheduling key information, a recording file to which recordingfile associated metadata of the data corresponds is obtained byrecording a 1 seg broadcast with an automatic scheduled recordingoperation. A type of the data stored in the scheduling key informationis an artist ID. In determining a program that should be automaticallyscheduled-recorded, this artist ID is used as information indicating,with an ID, an artist name functioning as a factor for the determination(a keyword).

In step S6, the control unit 20 retrieves, with reference to schedulingkey information of the recording file associated metadata to which thecontrol unit 20 sequentially accessed, recording file associatedmetadata in which the “a”th artist ID is stored. When the “a”th artistID is stored, the control unit 20 reads and holds a recording file IDthat the recording file associated metadata has as an information item.

In step S7, the control unit 20 creates a table list corresponding tothe “a”th artist ID using the artist name, the audio file ID, the artistassociated rating point (the average α), and the recording file ID,which are held by the processing in steps S3 to S6 executed this time inassociation with the “a”th artist ID, and registers the table list inthe artist list table.

In other words, in the table list in the artist list table, as explainedwith reference to FIG. 4, the respective attribute items “artist name”,“artist associated rating point”, “associated audio file”, and“associated recording file” are associated with one artist ID. Thus,concerning the attribute item “artist name”, the content of the artistname held in step S3 is stored. Concerning the attribute item “artistassociated rating point”, the value of the artist associated ratingpoint (the average α) held in step S5 is stored. Concerning theattribute item “associated audio file”, the audio file ID stored in held3 is stored. Concerning the attribute item “associated recording file”,the recording file ID held in step S6 is stored. In this way, a tablelist corresponding to the “a”th artist ID is created. The control unit20 additionally registers the table list in the artist list table.

In step S8, the control unit 20 judges whether the present variable “a”is a maximum value (a=full). The maximum value of the variable “a” isthe number of content classifications concerning the artist ID (theartist name) indicated in the audio file list. In the example in FIG. 3,the maximum number of the variable “a” is 3.

When a negative judgment result is obtained in step S8, since there isan artist ID for which the processing has not been completed, thecontrol unit 20 increments the variable “a” in step S9 and returns tostep S3. Consequently, the processing is sequentially applied to thenext artist ID and a created table list is registered in the artist listtable.

When the processing has been completed for all the artist list IDs, anaffirmative judgment result is obtained in step S8 and the control unit20 finishes the processing shown in FIG. 5. At this stage, table listsconcerning all the artist list IDs indicated in the audio file metadatatable are registered in the artist list table. In other words, theartist list table is stored in the memory unit 21 in a completed state.

On the basis of the above explanation, automatic scheduled recording ofa 1 seg broadcast in the portable content player 1 according to thisembodiment is explained.

In the 1 seg broadcast, as a normal program or the like, data of an EPG(Electronic Program Guide) (EPG data) is multiplexed and broadcastedtogether with information on videos and sound. As it is well known, theEPG data is data, which is called an electronic program guide or thelike, used for displaying a program list on a screen. The EPG data hasvarious kinds of necessary information concerning programs scheduled tobe broadcasted. In the 1 seg broadcast under the present situation, foreach of channels, EPG data having information concerning a predeterminednumber of (e.g., about ten) programs scheduled to be broadcasted afterthe present point is transmitted in the channel (broadcasting station).

The portable content player 1 according to this embodiment has afunction of receiving and acquiring the EPG data as a 1 seg broadcastreceiving function.

For example, when the EPG data is multiplexed on a reception signal of achannel currently tuned in by the television tuner unit 13, thetelevision tuner unit 13 extracts and acquires the multiplexed EPG dataand transfers the EPG data to, for example, the control unit 20. Thecontrol unit 20 stores the transferred EPG data in the memory unit 21.

The EPG data stored in the memory unit 21 is used for, for example,first, displaying the program list as the EPG (Electronic Program Guide)on the display screen of the display unit 19. When the automaticscheduled recording according to this embodiment is performed, the EPGdata is used for specifying a program to be scheduled-recorded.

When it is taken into account that the EPG data is used as describedabove, it is preferable to acquire and store EPG data corresponding toas many channels as possible among channels (broadcasting stations) thatcan be received in the 1 seg broadcast. Thus, the portable contentplayer 1 according to this embodiment executes a background operationdescribed below according to predetermined execution timing andexecution opportunities under a state in which the 1 seg broadcast isreceived and not reproduced and outputted as images and sound on a realtime basis because, for example, content stored in the storing unit 12is being reproduced or, in particular, the portable content player 1 isin a state in which videos and sound of content are not outputted.

The portable content player 1 sequentially tunes in all channels of the1 seg broadcast using the television tuner unit 13 and executesprocessing for storing EPG data broadcasted in the respective channelsin the memory unit 21. As described above, since this operation isperformed on the background, reproduction and output of images and soundof a channel received and tuned in is not performed.

By adopting such a procedure for acquiring EPG data, at a stage when allthe channels in the 1 seg broadcast are selected and tuned in, EPG datafor all the channels can be stored. If such processing for acquiring EPGdata at every fixed timing in association with, for example, an updateperiod of the EPG data on a broadcast side, EPG data of latest contentscan typically be stored for all the channels of the 1 seg broadcast.

As a specific example of contents of EPG data multiplexed for the 1 segbroadcast and received, acquired, and stored by the portable contentplayer 1, content corresponding to a certain broadcast scheduled programis shown in FIG. 6. A portion forming EPG data corresponding to oneprogram is referred to as program unit information in an EPG.

The program unit information in an EPG shown in FIG. 6 includes, asinformation items corresponding to the one program, a broadcastingstation name, a genre, a program title, a start date and time, an enddate and time, and program content.

The broadcasting station name indicates a name of a broadcasting stationthat broadcasts the program. In this example, the broadcasting stationname indicates “Television Nippon”. The genre indicates a genre ofcontent of the program. In this example, the genre indicates “music”.The program title indicates a name of the program. In this example, theprogram title is “Our Music”. The start date and time and the end dateand time indicate start and end dates and times of broadcast of theprogram. In this example, the start date and time is “2006/9/15 (Fri)23:00” and the end date and time is “2006/9/15 (Fri) 23:58”.

In the program content, content as a comment on the program, an abstractof the program, and the like is described. In this example, an abstractof content of the program, names of cast, and the like are described as,for example, “Total Collection of Musical Masterpieces, Cast: Artist A,Artist C”.

A flowchart in FIG. 7 shows an example of a processing procedure forsetting automatic scheduled recording according to this embodiment. Asit is understood from the above explanation, in the setting of automaticscheduled recording according to this embodiment, in specifying aprogram to be recorded, the EPG data and the management information (theaudio file metadata table and the artist list table) concerning audiofiles are used.

First, in step S101, the control unit 20 waits for timing for acquiringEPG data to come. When it is judged that the timing has come, in stepS102, the control unit 20 acquires EPG data. In processing for acquiringEPG data, as explained above, the control unit 20 acquires, whilesequentially receiving and tuning in all channels of the 1 segbroadcast, EPG data in each of the channels and causes the memory unit21 to store the EPG data.

In step S103, the control unit 20 judges whether, as a result of theacquisition of the EPG data in step S102, program unit information in anEPG acquired (stored) anew is present. When it is judged that programunit information in an EPG acquired anew is not present, i.e., the EPGdata acquired in step S102 has content same as that of EPG data acquiredbefore the processing for acquiring EPG data, the control unit 20 leavesthe processing shown in the figure and returns to, for example, stepS101.

On the other hand, when it is judged that program unit information in anEPG acquired anew is present and an affirmative judgment result isobtained, the control unit 20 proceeds to a procedure in step S104 andsubsequent steps. Program unit information in an EPG acquired anew ispresent when, for example, according to the actual finish of broadcastof one program, concerning EPG data transmitted by a broadcastingstation side, program unit information in an EPG of the finished program(i.e., a program broadcasted at an earliest broadcast time in theprogram unit information in an EPG) is deleted and, instead, programunit information in an EPG of a program broadcasted at a latestbroadcast time is added anew.

In step S104, the control unit 20 substitutes 1 in a variable “n”. Thevariable “n” indicates a serial number (processing order) affixed toeach of one or more pieces of program unit information in an EPG to beprocessed, i.e., the program unit information in an EPG acquired anew instep S102.

In step S105, the control unit 20 selects nth program unit informationin an EPG in the processing order out of the program unit information inan EPG acquired anew in step S102 this time. In step S106, the controlunit 20 searches for an artist name registered in the artist list tablefrom content of the program unit information in an EPG selected in S105.

Specifically, information items of program content are present in theprogram unit information in an EPG as shown in FIG. 6. In step S105, thecontrol unit 20 searches for information on a character stringcoinciding with an artist name registered in the artist list table fromdescription data representing program content stored in the informationitems of program content, i.e., performs processing for comparingcharacter strings. For example, when step S105 is executed with theexample of the artist list table in FIG. 4 as a premise, as artist namesin the artist list table in FIG. 4, there are three artist names, i.e.,“artist A, “artist B”, and “artist C”. Thus, in step S105, in theprogram content of the program unit information in an EPG selected asthe nth program unit information in an EPG, a character stringcoinciding with any one of “artist A”, “artist B”, and “artist C” issearched.

For example, as possibility, it is conceivable that an artist name isincluded in a program title. Thus, the control unit 20 also searchesthrough a program title in the program unit information in an EPG instep S105.

In step S107, the control unit 20 judges whether, as a result of thesearch in step S106, the artist names registered in the artist listtable is present in the selected nth program unit information in an EPG.When it is judged that none of the artist names registered in the artistlist table is present in the selected nth program unit information in anEPG and a negative judgment result is obtained, the control unit 20skips a procedure in step S108 and subsequent steps and proceeds to stepS111. On the other hand, when it is judged that at least one of theartist names registered in the artist list table is present in the nthprogram unit information in an EPG and an affirmative judgment result isobtained, the control unit 20 proceeds to step S108.

In step S108, the control unit 20 recognizes, with reference to theartist list table, an artist associated rating point arpt correspondingto the artist name judged as being present in the nth program unitinformation in an EPG in step S107. For example, when “artist A” amongthe artist names “artist A”, “artist B”, and “artist C” shown in FIG. 4is present, since the artist associated rating point arpt associatedwith “artist A” is 10, the artist associated rating point arptrecognized in step S108 is also 10.

It is also likely that it is judged in step S107 that plural artistnames are present as a result of the search. In such a case, in stepS108, the control unit 20 recognizes an artist associated rating pointarpt of each of the artist names judged as being present.

In step S109, the control unit 20 judges whether a relation arpt≧thholds concerning the artist associated rating point arpt recognized instep S108 and a threshold th set in advance. When a negative judgmentresult is obtained, the control unit 20 skips step S110 and proceeds tostep S111. When an affirmative judgment result is obtained, the controlunit 20 proceeds to step S110.

The control unit 20 proceeds to step S111 when the relation arpt≧thholds. This means that a degree of importance, i.e., a degree ofinterest or a degree of preference of the user concerning the artistname recognized in step S108 this time is equal to or higher than afixed degree. Therefore, it can be considered that a program whose anartist name judged as having a high degree of importance for the user ispresent in the program unit information in an EPG is a program having ahigh degree of importance for the user and is worth viewing.

Thus, in this embodiment, in step S110, the control unit 20 executesprocessing for performing scheduled recording setting for a program towhich the nth program unit information in an EPG corresponds.

For this purpose, the control unit 20 collects information necessary forthe scheduled recording setting with reference to the nth program unitinformation in an EPG. For example, the control unit 20 specifies achannel number to be tuned in with reference to the broadcasting stationname and determines a recording start time and a recording end time withreference to the start date and time and the end date and time. Inparticular, in the case of this embodiment, the control unit 20 stores,as information necessary for the scheduled recording setting, an artistID corresponding to the artist name having the artist associated ratingpoint arpt for which the affirmative judgment result is obtained in stepS109. For example, when the artist name corresponding to the artistassociated rating point arpt for which the affirmative judgment resultis obtained in step S109 is the artist A in the artist list table inFIG. 3, the control unit 20 prepares the artist ID A01 of the artist Aas information necessary for the scheduled recording setting. Theinformation of the artist ID is referred to as scheduling keyinformation because the information indicates the artist name as afactor (a key) for determining that the scheduled recording settingshould be applied to a program corresponding to the nth program unitinformation in an EPG being processed this time.

The control unit 20 creates recording schedule setting information perone program using the information of the channel number, the recordingstart time, the recording end time, the scheduling key information (theartist ID), transfers the recording schedule setting information to thestoring unit 12, and stores the recording schedule setting informationin a storage area (a directory) allocated for the recording schedulesetting information D3.

In step S111, the control unit 20 judges whether the present variable“n” is a maximum value (n=full). The maximum value is a total number ofpieces of program unit information in an EPG acquired anew in step S102this time.

When a negative judgment result is obtained in step S111, among thepieces of program unit information in an EPG acquired anew, unprocessedprogram unit information in an EPG still remains. Thus, in step S112,the control unit 20 increments the variable “n” (n←n+1) and, then,returns to step S105. On the other hand, when an affirmative judgmentresult is obtained in step S111 because the processing is applied to allthe pieces of program unit information in an EPG acquired anew, thecontrol unit 20 leaves the processing shown in the figure.

The flow of the automatic scheduled recording setting in the portablecontent player 1 according to this embodiment explained above issummarized as described below.

In this embodiment, first, in the management of the audio file as theaudio content, the file associated rating point is defined as one ofattribute information of the audio file. In other words, in music unitsfor each of audio files, a value indicating a degree of importance (adegree of preference) of the audio file can be set according to useroperation. Then, in this embodiment, a value indicating a degree ofimportance of each of artists (artist IDs and artist names) iscalculated using the file associated rating point and this value isincluded in the one piece of attribute information as an artist ratingpoint.

In setting for automatic program recording scheduling of the 1 segbroadcast, when a broadcast program that should be automaticallyscheduled-recorded is selected, with reference to content of EPG datafor the same 1 seg broadcast, a program related to an artist having afixed or higher artist rating point is set as a selection condition. Inother words, in this embodiment, selection of a recording object programin the setting for automatic program recording scheduling of atelevision broadcast is performed on the basis of preference of the userconcerning artists in a category of audio contents stored in theportable content player 1.

In this way, the automatic program scheduled recording of the 1 segbroadcast is associated with the artists of the audio contents.Consequently, when the user simply performs setting of a rating pointfor music (an audio file) as normal operation for audio contentmanagement, as an operation of the portable content player 1, a programof the 1 seg broadcast related to an artist having a high degree ofimportance for the user is automatically scheduled-recorded at a highprobability. In other words, for the user, even if the user does notapply designation operation concerning program scheduled recording tothe 1 seg broadcast itself, a program worth viewing for the user isautomatically recorded. Therefore, convenience higher than that in thepast is obtained.

For example, in the past, as an automatic program scheduled recordingfunction, a recording object program is selected by reflectingpreference of the user on the selection. However, this automatic programscheduled recording function is a function of setting a selectioncondition on the basis of a key word such as a genre or a name of anactor inputted by a user and specifying a program matching thisselection condition with reference to, for example, EPG data. In otherwords, the user in this case needs to apply designation operationconcerning program scheduled recording to a television broadcast itself.In this regard, it can be said that convenience is further improved inthis embodiment.

In practice, the scheduled recording setting that is possible in theportable content player 1 according to this embodiment is not limited tothe automatic setting explained above. The scheduled recording settingmay be, for example, manual setting generally performed that involvesoperation for an image of an EPG.

An example of a processing procedure for executing an operation asscheduled recording is explained with reference to FIG. 8.

First, in step S201, the control unit 20 waits for scheduled recordingstandby timing to come. The scheduled recording standby timing meanstiming a predetermined time (e.g., several seconds) before a recordingstart time indicated by recording schedule setting information. When itis judged that the scheduled recording standby timing has come, thecontrol unit 20 proceeds to a procedure in step S202.

In step S202, the control unit 20 sets a scheduled recording standbymode. First, the control unit 20 sets, in the television tuner unit 13,an operation for receiving and tuning in a channel indicated by therecording schedule setting information having the recording start timethat determines the scheduled recording standby timing. The control unit20 sets an operation of a system for recording a signal outputted fromthe television tuner unit 13 in, for example, the storing unit 12 as arecording file to be effective.

In step S203, the control unit 20 waits for the recording start timeindicated by the recording schedule setting information to come. When itis judged that the recording start time has come, the control unit 20starts a recording operation according to a procedure in step S204.

In step S205, the control unit 20 waits for the recording end timeindicated by the recording schedule setting information to come. When itis judged that the recording end time has come, the control unit 20executes scheduled recording finish processing in step S206. As thescheduled recording finish processing, for example, first, the controlunit 20 updates the file system such that data of content of the 1 segbroadcast stored in the storing unit 12 by the present recordingoperation is managed as one recording file. When necessary, the controlunit 20 stops the reception and tuning-in operation of the televisiontuner unit 13 that has been performed, an operation of a recordingsignal processing system, and the like.

Subsequently, in this embodiment, the control unit 20 executesprocessing in steps S207 and S208. Steps S207 and S208 may be regardedas being included in the finish processing in step S206. However, sincesteps S207 and S208 are characteristic processing in this embodiment,steps S207 and S208 are shown separately from step S206.

As described above, one recording file is additionally obtained when thepresent scheduled recording is finished. However, in step S207, thecontrol unit 20 creates recording file associated metadata correspondingto the recording file obtained by the present scheduled recording andcauses the storing unit 12 to store the recording file associatedmetadata.

An example of content of the recording file associated metadata createdin step S207 is shown in FIG. 9.

As shown in the figure, the recording file associated metadata belongingto one recording file is formed by information items “recording fileID”, “broadcasting station name”, “genre”, “program title”, “start dateand time”, “end date and time”, “program content”, and “scheduling keyinformation”.

The recording file ID is an identifier given to be peculiar to each ofrecording files stored in a recording file folder. For example, everytime a recording file is created and stored anew, an identifier notoverlapping a recording file already stored is created according to apredetermined rule and is set as a recording file ID. Here, forconvenience of explanation, V01 is attached as the recording file ID.

The broadcasting station name, the genre, the program title, the startdate and time, the end date and time, and the program content areinformation related to a program that is a source of a recording filecorresponding thereto. These kinds of information are created usingprogram unit information in an EPG concerning the program that is thesource of the recording file.

When the corresponding recording file is stored by automatic recordingscheduling, an artist ID of an artist name that is a factor fordetermining the recording file as an object of the automatic recordingscheduling is stored in the scheduling key information. As explainedabove, an artist ID can be stored in the recording schedule settinginformation as a scheduling key information. The artist ID as thescheduling key information in the recording file associated metadata inthis case is created by, for example, copying an artist ID stored in thescheduling key information in the recording schedule setting informationof the corresponding recording file.

When the recording file associated metadata is created and stored in thestoring unit 12 as described above, subsequently, in step S208, thecontrol unit 20 updates the artist list table according to a result ofthe present scheduled recording.

For example, as explained above with reference to FIG. 4, the item“associated recording file” is provided in the artist list table. Theassociated recording file indicates, with a recording file ID, a list ofrecording files having an artist ID of the same table list as anattribute. This means that “a recording file ID indicated by therecording file associated metadata that stores the artist ID of thetable list as scheduling key information is stored in the associatedrecording file”.

When the present scheduled recording operation is executed as a resultof the automatic scheduled recording, the artist ID is stored in thescheduling key information of the recording file associated metadatacreated in step S207. Therefore, in this case, the recording file ID ofthe recording file associated metadata created in step S207 should bestored in an associated recording file of a table list of an artist listtable to which the artist ID indicated by the scheduling key informationof the recording file associated metadata corresponds. In step S208, thecontrol unit 20 executes processing for updating such an artist listtable.

As a specific example, when the recording file associated metadata shownin FIG. 9 is created in step S207 as explained above, the artist ID=A01indicating the artist A is stored in the scheduling key information.Therefore, in step S208, the control unit 20 updates the artist listtable to store the recording file ID=V01 in an associated recording fileof a table list of the artist ID=A01 (the artist A) as shown astransition from FIG. 4 to FIG. 10.

The artist list table is originally management information related toaudio content. However, as in step S207, by registering the associatedrecording file in the artist list table according to a recording result,in this embodiment, the audio content and the recording file areassociated with respect to an artist after the scheduled recording.

An example of a user interface used when contents (an audio file and arecording file) stored in the storing unit 12 are reproduced andoutputted in the portable content player 1 according to this embodimentis explained with reference to FIGS. 11 and 12. FIGS. 11 and 12 show,together with an example of an operation procedure, an interface screen,a reproduction screen, and the like displayed on a display screen unit19A of a display unit 19 concerning content reproduction. An example ofdisplay content shown in FIGS. 11 and 12 is on the premise that thedisplay content is the storage content of the content file of thestoring unit 12 described above as an example as shown in FIGS. 3, 9,and 10. It is assumed that, as the audio content, the six audio filesindicated by the audio file IDs=M01, M02, M03, M04, M05, and M06 arestored and, as the recording file, one recording file (the recordingfile ID=V01) obtained by recording the program corresponding to theprogram unit information in an EPG shown in FIG. 6 is stored.

When an instruction for displaying an artist list screen (one ofinformation content list images) as one of user interface screensconcerning the audio content is given by, for example, predeterminedoperation of the user on the operation unit 23, an artist list screen ofa form shown in FIG. 11A is displayed on the display screen unit 19A.The artist list screen displays all artist names of the audio content(the audio file) stored in the storing unit 12 as a list. In the case ofFIG. 11A, the artist list screen corresponds to storage content of theaudio file indicated by the audio file metadata table shown in FIG. 3.List items representing the respective artist names “artist A”, “artistB”, and “artist C” are shown.

In the list item of the artist A in this case, a recording file icon 101(indication of a broadcast content information presence notice) isarranged and displayed. The recording file icon 101 has the significanceof notifying that a recording file related to an artist shown in thelist item, in which the recording file icon 101 is arranged anddisplayed, is present. According to the above specific explanation, withthe artist A as the recording key information, the program of the title“Our Music” is scheduled-recorded and the program is stored in thestoring unit 12 as the recording file of the recording file ID=V01 bythe flow explained with reference to FIGS. 6 to 10. The recording fileicon 101 in FIG. 11A is displayed because this recording file is stored.

A cursor 120 is arranged on the artist list screen to highlight any onelist item selected out of the list items. In this figure, an example ofa state in which the cursor 120 is arranged in the list item of theartist B is shown. The cursor 120 sequentially moves among the listitems according to predetermined operation on the operation unit 23.

In a state in which the artist list screen shown in FIG. 11A isdisplayed, for example, when the user performs operation for moving thecursor 120 to the list item of the artist A, the artist list screenchanges as shown in FIG. 11B according to the operation.

The cursor 120 moves to the list item of the artist A in response to theoperation. The recording file icon 101 is arranged in the list item ofthe artist A. When the cursor 120 is located in the list item, in whichthe recording file icon 101 is arranged, in which way, as shown in thefigure, a video title list window 112 is displayed with, for example,the section of the recording file icon 101 enlarged.

The video title list window 112 is a pop-up window that presents a listof recording files related to an artist of a list item in which thevideo title list window 112 is arranged using program titles of therecording files. As described above, one recording file of the programof the title “Our Music” is stored in relation to the artist A. Thus,one list item in which the program title “Our Music” of this recordingfile is shown is displayed on the video title list window 112 in FIG.11B.

With such an artist list screen as a starting point, first, as shown asa flow from FIG. 11B to FIG. 11C, it is possible to shift toreproduction of the audio content with a normal audio reproductionfunction of the portable content player 1.

Under a state in which the artist list screen shown in FIG. 11B isdisplayed, for example, when the user performs operation fordetermination of selection, although not shown in the figure, an audiotitle list that shows audio content of the artist A, on which the cursor120 is arranged, using a music title of the audio content is displayed.When the user selects an arbitrary music title from this audio titlelist and performs determination operation, reproduction of an audio fileof the music title selected and determined (music play) is started. Asthe reproduction of the audio film is started in this way, a music playscreen shown in FIG. 11C is displayed on the display screen unit 19A.

The music play screen in FIG. 11C indicates that a title of the audiofile (music) being currently reproduced is “ABCD” and an artist name isartist A. In addition, an icon indicating a reproduction operationstate, a reproduction time, and the like are displayed on the music playscreen. Moreover, in this embodiment, the recording file icon 101 isdisplayed as shown in the figure.

The recording file icon 101 displayed on the music play screen indicatesthat a recording file related to the artist of the audio file beingreproduced is stored in the storing unit 12. In other words, when therecording file icon 101 is not displayed on the music play screen, thisindicates that a recording file related to the artist of the audio filebeing reproduced is not stored in the storing unit 12.

In this embodiment, as indicated as a flow from FIG. 11B to FIG. 11E, itis also possible to shift to reproduction of a recording file related tothe artist presented on the artist list screen with the artist listscreen as a starting point.

As operation for the shift, for example, the user selects an arbitraryone of list items (program titles) of recording files displayed in thevideo title list window 112 displayed as shown in FIG. 11B and performsdetermination operation. In the example in FIG. 11B, only one list itemof a recording file of the program title “Our Music” is displayed in thevideo title list window 112. Thus, an object of the selection anddetermination operation is inevitably the program title “Our Music”.

When the selection and determination are actually performed for theprogram title “Our Music”, as shown in FIG. 11E, a moving image obtainedby reproducing the recording file of the program title “Our Music” isdisplayed on the display screen unit 19A. In other words, a video playscreen is displayed. On the video play screen in the figure, an iconindicating a reproduction operation state and a program title aredisplayed together with a reproduced moving image of the recording file.

Moreover, in this embodiment, as shown in the figure, an audio file icon102 is displayed.

The audio file icon 102 (indication of a unit sound information presencenotice) indicates that audio content (an audio file) of an artistrelated to the recording file, the reproduced moving image of which isbeing displayed, is stored in the storing unit 12.

As it is seen from FIG. 11C and FIG. 11E, in this embodiment, on themusic play screen displayed according to reproduction of an audio file,it is notified that there is a recording file related to an artist ofthe audio file. Conversely, on the video play screen displayed accordingto reproduction of a recording file, it is notified that there is anaudio file related to an artist of the recording file.

Moreover, in this embodiment, it is possible to perform shift from theaudio file reproduction to the recording file reproduction and oppositeshift from the recording file reproduction to the audio filereproduction with the recording file icon 101 and the audio file icon102 displayed for the notification as starting points.

First, in a state in which the music play screen is displayed as shownin FIG. 11C, when the user performs operation equivalent to click on therecording file icon 101, the video title list window 112 is displayed onthe music play screen as shown as transition to FIG. 11D. In the videotitle list window 112 in the case of the music play screen, a list ofrecording files related to an artist of music (an audio file) beingcurrently played is displayed. Therefore, in the list of recording filesin this case, one list item indicating the program title “Our Music” isdisplayed as a recording file related to the artist A. The user selectsarbitrary one list item out of list items presented in the video titlelist window 112 and performs determination operation. In a state shownin FIG. 11D, the user performs selection and determination for the listitem of the program title “Our Music”. According to this operation,reproduction of the audio file is switched to reproduction of therecording file selected and determined. According to the switch of thereproduction, the display screen unit 19A is switched to display of thereproduced moving image of the recording file of the program title “OurMusic” as indicated as transition from FIG. 11D to FIG. 11E.

When the user performs operation equivalent to click on the audio fileicon 102 on the video play screen shown in FIG. 11E, as indicated astransition to FIG. 11F, an audio title list window 113 is displayed onthe video play screen.

The audio title list window 113 is a pop-up window that presents a listof music (audio files) of an artist related to a recording filecurrently being reproduced using music titles of the music. In the caseof FIG. 11F, a music list of the artist A is presented. For example,when the user selects arbitrary one list item out of list items of musicpresented in the window 113 and performs determination operation, playof the music selected and determined is started. For example, when theuser performs selection and determination for a list item with a musictitle “ABCD” in the audio title list window 113 shown in FIG. 11F,reproduction of an audio file of this music is started. On the displayscreen unit 19A, as indicated as transition from FIG. 11F to FIG. 11C, amusic play screen for the music title “ABCD” is displayed.

For example, when an instruction for displaying a recording file list isgiven by predetermined operation of the user on the operation unit 23, arecording file list of a form shown in FIG. 12A is displayed on thedisplay screen unit 19A. The recording file list presents a list ofrecording files stored in the storing unit 12 using program titles ofthe recording files. In this case, since the recording files stored inthe storing unit 12 are two program titles “drama A” and “Our Music”,two list items “drama A” and “Our Music” are displayed in the recordingfile list in FIG. 12A according to the program titles.

Among the recording files presented as the list items of the recordingfile list, in recording files associated with an artist, the audio fileicon 102 is arranged and displayed. This indicates that audio files ofthe artist associated with the recording files are stored. In FIG. 12A,the audio file icon 102 is arranged in the list item “Our Music”. Thisis based on the fact that the audio file (see FIG. 3) of the artist Aassociated with the program title “Our Music” is stored in the storingunit 12. For example, the recording file of “drama A” is normallyrecorded rather than, for example, being scheduled-recorded. An artistand the like are not specifically registered in scheduling keyinformation of the recording file associated metadata.

In the recording file list, the cursor 120 is arranged to highlight onetable list selected. In the figure, the cursor 120 is arranged in thelist item “drama A”.

In a state in which a recording file list shown in FIG. 12A isdisplayed, for example, the user performs operation for moving thecursor 120 to the list item of the artist A. Then, on the recording filelist, as shown in FIG. 12B, first, the cursor 120 moves to the list item“Our Music”. Simultaneously with the movement of the cursor 120, theaudio title list window 113 is displayed with, for example, the sectionof the audio file icon 102 enlarged.

The audio title list window 113 is a pop-up window that presents a listof audio files of an artist related to a recording file of a list itemin which the audio title list window 113 is arranged using music titlesof the audio files.

In a state in which the cursor 120 is arranged in the list item of themusic title “Our Music” as shown in FIG. 12B, the user performsoperation for selection and determination. Then, the portable contentplayer 1 starts reproduction of the recording file of the program title“Our Music”. According to the start of reproduction, the display screenunit 19A is switched to a video play screen that displays a reproducedmoving image of the recording file of “Our Music” as shown in FIG. 12C.The video play screen for “Our Music” is the same as that shown in FIG.11E.

In a display state shown in FIG. 12B, the user selects, withpredetermined operation, one list item from a title list of musicpresented in the audio title list window 113 and performs determinationoperation. Then, reproduction of an audio file of music selected anddetermined is started. According to the start of reproduction, thedisplay screen unit 19A is switched to a music play screen for thereproduced audio file as shown in FIG. 12E. In FIG. 12E, since a listitem of a music title “ABCD” is selected and determined from the audiotitle list window 113, a music play screen for the music title “ABCD” isshown. The music play screen in FIG. 12E is the same as that shown inFIG. 11C.

In a state in which the video play screen is displayed as shown in FIG.12C, as explained as the transition from FIG. 11E to FIG. 11F and fromFIG. 11F to FIG. 11C, according to operation equivalent to click on theaudio file icon 102, the audio title list window 113 can be displayed asshown in FIG. 12D. Moreover, as shown as transition from FIG. 12D toFIG. 12E, according to selection and determination operation for a titlelist: of audio files in the audio title list window 113, the video playscreen can be switched to audio file reproduction.

In a state in which the music play screen is displayed as shown in FIG.12E, as explained as the transition from FIG. 11C to FIG. 11D and fromFIG. 11D to FIG. 11E, according to operation equivalent to click on thevideo file icon 101, the video title list window 112 can be displayed asshown in FIG. 12F. Moreover, as shown as transition from FIG. 12F toFIG. 12C, according to selection and determination operation for a titlelist of audio files in the video title list window 112, audio filereproduction can be switched to recording file reproduction.

As it is understood from the explanation with reference to FIGS. 11 and12, in this embodiment, audio file reproduction can be shifted torecording file (i.e., file of a video format) reproduction with, forexample, the artist list screen as an interface screen originally usedfor audio file reproduction as a starting point. During reproduction ofan audio file, in a state in which a screen showing a reproduction state(a music play screen) is displayed, as in the state described above,audio file reproduction can be shifted to recording file reproduction.

Conversely, recording file reproduction can be shifted to audio filereproduction with the recording file list screen as an interface screenused for recording file reproduction as a starting point. Duringreproduction of a recording file, in a state in which a video playscreen showing a reproduction state is displayed, recording filereproduction can be shifted to audio file reproduction.

In this embodiment, it is possible to start video file reproductionwithout performing a large number of operation procedures for returningfrom the interface screen related to audio file reproduction to theinterface screen related to video file reproduction. Conversely, it isalso possible to start audio file reproduction without returning fromthe interface screen related to recording file (video file) reproductionto the interface screen related to audio file reproduction.

Consequently, for example, the user can perform operation related toreproduction of a content file in a seamless sense without clearlydistinguishing audio from video. Thus, it is possible to obtainunprecedented satisfactory operability.

An example of a processing procedure executed by the control unit 20(the CPU) in order to realize the user interface related to contentreproduction shown in FIGS. 11 and 12 is explained with reference toflowcharts in FIGS. 13 to 21.

An example of a processing procedure related to display of the artistlist screen shown in FIGS. 11A and 11B is explained with reference tothe flowchart in FIG. 13.

First, in step S301, the control unit 20 waits for an instruction fordisplaying the artist list screen to be obtained. When an instructionfor displaying the artist list screen is obtained according to, forexample, operation on the operation unit 23 for displaying the artistlist screen, the control unit 20 proceeds to a procedure in step S302and subsequent steps.

In step S302, the control unit 20 reads, for example, an artist listtable stored in the memory unit 21. In step S303, the control unit 20executes initialization for substituting 1 in a variable “n”. Thevariable “n” in this case indicates processing order for processingafter that set for artists registered in the artist list table.

In step S304, the control unit 20 judges whether, concerning an nthartist in the artists shown in the artist list table read in step S302,at least one recording file ID is registered in an associated recordingfile that is one of attribute items of the artist list table.

When an affirmative judgment result is obtained, the control unit 20proceeds to step S305. In step S305, the control unit 20 sets anindication that the present nth artist should be displayed on the artistlist screen with the recording file icon 101 attached thereto. Thecontrol unit 20 proceeds to step S306.

On the other hand, when a negative judgment result is obtained in stepS304, the control unit 20 skips step S305 and proceeds to step S306. Inthis case, the control unit 20 sets an indication that the nth artist isnot displayed with the recording file icon 101 attached thereto.According to the procedure from steps S304 to S306, display/non-displayof the recording file icon corresponding to the nth artist is set.

In step S306, the control unit 20 judges whether the present variable“n” is a maximum value (full). When a negative judgment result isobtained, there is an artist for which processing concerning recordingfile icon display/non-display setting is not performed. Thus, thecontrol unit 20 increments the variable “n” in step S307 and, then,returns to step S304 and performs recording file icondisplay/non-display setting for the next artist. On the other hand,according to completion of recording file icon display/non-displaysetting for all the artists, when an affirmative judgment result isobtained in step S306, the control unit 20 proceeds to step S308.

In step S308, the control unit 20 creates display image data for theartist list screen to reflect, on the display image data, a settingresult of recording file icon display/non-display set for each of theartists by the procedure performed so far. In step S309, the controlunit 20 transfers this display image data to the display memory 18 andcauses the display unit 19 to display an image of the display imagedata. In other words, the control unit 20 causes the display unit 19 tostart display of the artist list screen.

An example of a processing procedure for shifting to audio filereproduction or recording file reproduction with the artist list screenas a starting point as explained with reference to FIGS. 11A to 11F isexplained with reference to the flowchart in FIG. 14.

First, in step S401, the control unit 20 judges whether operation formoving the cursor 120 on the artist list screen currently beingdisplayed is applied to the operation unit 23. When a negative judgmentresult is obtained, the control unit 20 proceeds to step S405 describedlater. On the other hand, when an affirmative judgment result isobtained, the control unit 20 proceeds to step S402.

In step S402, the control unit 20 moves the cursor 120 to a position ofa list item of another artist and displays the cursor 120 in accordancewith a moving direction and a moving amount corresponding to a cursormoving instruction issued in step S401. At this point, when the videotitle list window 112 is displayed in the list item arranged in thecursor 120 before the movement of the cursor 120, the control unit 20erases the video title list window 112 according to the present movementof the cursor 120.

In step S403, the control unit 20 judges whether the recording file icon101 is displayed in the list item in which the cursor 120 is arranged bythe present cursor movement. When a negative judgment result isobtained, the control unit 20 returns to step S401. On the other hand,when an affirmative judgment result is obtained, the control unit 20proceeds to step S404.

In step S404, the control unit 20 creates, with reference to the artistlist table stored in the memory unit 21, display image data of a videotitle list window of an artist indicated by the list item in which thecursor 120 is currently arranged (a selection object artist). Thecontrol unit 20 executes display control processing such that thedisplay image data is displayed in a superimposing manner on the artistlist screen in, for example, the display form shown in FIG. 11B.

In step S405, the control unit 20 judges whether selection anddetermination operation for a video title is performed as operation forthe video title list window 112 currently being displayed. When thecursor 120 is arranged in a list item in which the recording file icon101 is not displayed such as a list item corresponding to the artist Bin FIGS. 11A and 11B, the video title list window 112 is not displayed.In this case, in step S405, the control unit 20 outputs a negativejudgment result.

When an affirmative judgment result is obtained in step S405, thecontrol unit 20 proceeds to step S406. In step S406, the control unit 20outputs a request for start of reproduction of a recording filecorresponding to the video title selected and determined in step S405and leaves the processing shown in the figure. A flow of this processingcorresponds to the transition from FIG. 11B to FIG. 11E.

On the other hand, when a negative judgment result is obtained in stepS405, in step S407, the control unit 20 judges whether operation forinvoking display of another list screen or the like other than theartist list screen currently displayed. When such operation is notperformed, the control unit 20 returns to step S401.

On the other hand, when it is judged that operation for instructinginvoking of another screen is performed and an affirmative judgmentresult is obtained in step S407, the control unit 20 proceeds to stepS408. In step S408, the control unit 20 judges whether the presentinstruction for invoking another screen is an instruction for an audiotitle list screen. When a negative judgment result is obtained, in stepS413, the control unit 20 executes control for displaying the designatedanother screen and leaves the processing shown in the figure. On theother hand, when it is judged that another screen invoked in step S407is an audio title list screen and an affirmative judgment result isobtained in step S408, the control unit 20 proceeds to step S409.

In step S409, the control unit 20 creates, with reference to the audiofile metadata table (FIG. 3), display image data of an audio title listscreen for the selected artist and performs image display according tothis display image data. Consequently, display content on the displayscreen unit 19A is switched from the artist list screen displayed so farto the audio title list screen for the artist of the list item in whichthe cursor is arranged last in the artist list screen. A flow of theprocessing from step S407 to step S409 corresponds to the transitionuntil the audio title list screen for the artist A is displayedexplained as a stage before transition from FIG. 11B to FIG. 11C.

In a state in which the audio title list screen is displayed in thisway, first, in step S410, the control unit 20 waits for selection anddetermination operation for an audio title, which is presented as a listitem in the audio title list screen, to be performed.

In step S410, the control unit 20 judges whether selection anddetermination operation for a list item of an audio tile is performed.When an affirmative judgment result is obtained, in step S411, thecontrol unit 20 outputs a request for start of reproduction of an audiofile corresponding to the selected and determined audio title and leavesthe processing shown in the figure. A flow of the processing correspondsto the transition from the display of the artist list screen to audiofile reproduction shown in FIG. 11C.

On the other hand, when a negative judgment result is obtained in stepS410, in step S412, the control unit 20 judges whether operation forinvoking another interface screen other than the audio list screen isperformed. When a negative judgment result is obtained in step S412, thecontrol unit 20 returns to step S410. On the other hand, when anaffirmative judgment result is obtained in step S412, in step S413, thecontrol unit 20 shifts to display of the another screen designated to beinvoked.

The flowchart in FIG. 15 shows an example of a processing procedureresponding to the request for start of reproduction of the audio fileoutputted in step S411 in FIG. 14.

First, in step S501, the control unit 20 waits for the request for startof reproduction of the audio file to be obtained. When the request forstart of reproduction of the audio file is issued according to, forexample, execution of step S411 in FIG. 14 as described above, thecontrol unit 20 shifts to a procedure in step S502 and subsequent steps.

In step S502, the control unit 20 starts reproduction and output of theaudio file designated by the request for start of reproduction of theaudio file obtained in step S501. In other words, the control unit 20specifies the audio file designated by the request for start ofreproduction of the audio file using an audio file ID of the audio fileand issues a reproduction command for the audio file using the audiofile ID. According to the reproduction command, the audio file indicatedby the designated audio file ID is read out from the storing unit 21.The audio file is subjected to signal processing and reproduced andoutputted by the reproduction processing unit 22 and the audio-outputprocessing unit 15.

Simultaneously with the processing in step S502, the control unit 20executes, according to a procedure from step S503 to step S506,processing for displaying the music play screen shown in FIG. 11C.

First, in step S503, the control unit 20 identifies, from the artistlist table, content of an associated recording file in a list item of anartist corresponding to an audio file to be currently reproduced. Instep S504, the control unit 20 judges, as a result of theidentification, whether there is registration of a recording file ID inthe associated recording file.

When it is judged that registration of a recording file ID is presentand an affirmative judgment result is obtained in step S504, the controlunit 20 proceeds to step S505. In step S505, for example, as shown inFIG. 11C, the control unit 20 displays the recording file icon 101 in asuperimposing manner and, then, executes display control processing fordisplaying the music play screen.

On the other hand, when a negative judgment result is obtained in stepS504, in step S506, the control unit 20 executes display controlprocessing for displaying the music play screen without displaying therecording file icon 101 in a superimposing manner.

A flowchart in FIG. 16 shows an example of a processing procedureresponding to a case in which, for example, as indicated as thetransition from FIG. 11C to FIG. 11D and from FIG. 11D to FIG. 11E, thevideo title window 112 is displayed and an instruction for reproductionof a video title is issued as operation for the music play screen onwhich the recording file icon 101 is displayed.

First, in step S601, in a state in which the music play screen on whichthe recording file icon 101 is displayed as shown in FIG. 11C isdisplayed on the display screen unit 19A, the control unit 20 waits foroperation for invoking the video title list window 112 to be invoked.When operation equivalent to click on the recording file icon 101 on themusic play screen is performed, for example, as explained above, thecontrol unit 20 proceeds from step S601 to step S602.

In step S602, in the same manner as step S404 in FIG. 14, the controlunit 20 executes, with reference to the artist list table, processingfor displaying the video title window 112 of an artist to which an audiofile to be currently reproduced corresponds. Then, in step S603, thecontrol unit 20 waits for video title selection and determinationoperation for the video title list window 112 to be performed. Althoughnot shown in the figure, for example, while the control unit 20 waitsfor video title selection and determination operation in step S603, whena command for erasing the video title list window 112 is outputtedbecause, for example, a fixed time has elapsed without specificoperation or operation for erasing the video title list window 112, thecontrol unit 20 executes display control to erase the display of thevideo title list window 112.

When a judgment result that video title selection and determinationoperation is performed is obtained in step S603, in step S604, thecontrol unit 20 outputs a request for start of reproduction of arecording file corresponding to the selected and determined video title.In response to this request for start of reproduction of the recordingfile, for example, as described later with reference to FIG. 20,reproduction of the corresponding recording file and display of a videoplay screen following the reproduction are performed. In other words,the transition from audio file reproduction to recording filereproduction shown in FIG. 11D to FIG. 11E (or FIG. 12F to FIG. 12C) isrealized.

An example of a processing procedure for starting display of therecording file list screen shown in FIG. 12A is explained with referenceto the flowchart in FIG. 17.

First, in step S701, the control unit 20 waits for an instruction fordisplay of a recording file list screen to be obtained. When aninstruction for display of a recording file list is obtained accordingto, for example, operation for instructing display of a recording filelist screen on the operation unit 23, the control unit 20 proceeds to aprocedure in step S702 and subsequent steps.

In step S702, the control unit 20 accesses the recording file associatedmetadata folder of the storing unit 12 and reads out a group ofrecording file associated metadata stored in the recording fileassociated metadata folder. Then, in step S703, as initializationprocessing, the control unit 20 substitutes 1 in a variable “m”. Thevariable “m” indicates processing order for processing after that setfor the recording file associated metadata read in step S702. An exampleof the structure of the recording file associated metadata is shown inFIG. 9.

In step S704, the control unit 20 executes processing for an mthrecording file associated metadata in processing order among therecording file associated metadata read in step S702. A processingprocedure in step S704 is shown in FIG. 18.

In FIG. 18, first, in step S801, the control unit 20 acquires, withreference to the mth recording file associated metadata to be currentlyprocessed, content of an information item that should be presented in alist table for a recording file to which this recording file associatedmetadata corresponds, which should be displayed in the recording filelist screen. More specifically, for example, for each of list items ofthe recording file screen shown in FIG. 12A, when there are a title (aprogram title) of the recording file and an audio file corresponding toan artist related to the title, the audio file icon 102 for notifying tothat effect is displayed. Therefore, information items that should beacquired in step S801 are a program title and an artist ID as schedulingkey information.

In step S802, the control unit 20 reads the artist list table stored inthe memory unit 21.

In step S803, the control unit 20 judges, with reference to anassociated audio file of a list item to which the artist ID registeredin the scheduling key information acquired in step S801 corresponds,whether an audio file ID is registered in the artist list table.

When an affirmative judgment result is obtained in step S803, this meansthat there is an audio file associated with a recording filecorresponding to the mth recording file associated metadata with respectto the artist in the audio file. Thus, in this case, in step S804, thecontrol unit 20 sets an indication that a list item of the recordingfile corresponding to the mth recording file associated metadata shouldbe displayed with the audio file icon 102 attached thereto. On the otherhand, when a negative judgment result is obtained in step S803, thismeans that there is no audio file associated with the recording fileassociated with the mth recording file associated metadata with respectto the artist in the audio file. Thus, in this case, the control unit 20skips step S804 to set an indication that the recording file associatedwith the mth recording file associated metadata is not displayed withthe audio file icon 102 attached thereto. In other words, setting ofdisplay/non-display concerning the audio file icon 102 in a list item ofone recording file is included in the procedure in FIG. 18.

After executing the procedure in FIG. 18, the control unit 20 proceedsto step S705 in FIG. 17. In step S705, the control unit 20 judgeswhether the present variable “m” is a maximum value (full). When anegative judgment result is obtained, this means that unprocessedrecording file associated metadata remains. Thus, in this case, in stepS706, the control unit 20 increments the variable “m” and, then, returnsto step S704 to perform processing for the next recording fileassociated metadata.

On the other hand, when processing for all the recording file associatedmetadata is executed and an affirmative judgment result is obtained instep S705, the control unit 20 proceeds to step S707.

In step S707, the control unit 20 creates display image data of arecording file list screen to reflect, on the display image data, aresult of the processing for the recording file associated metadataperformed so far. Every time the recording file associated metadata isprocessed, as a result, a program title that should be displayed in atable list of a recording file corresponding to the recording fileassociated metadata is recognized and setting of display/non-display ofthe audio file icon 102 is performed. Thus, results of the recognitionand the setting are reflected on the display image data. In step S708,the control unit 20 executes control to start display of the displayimage data, i.e., display the recording file list screen on the displayunit 19.

An example of a processing procedure for shifting to recording filereproduction or audio file reproduction with a recording file listscreen as a starting point as explained with reference to FIGS. 12A to12F is explained with reference to the flowchart in FIG. 19.

First, in step S901, the control unit 20 judges whether operation formoving the cursor 120 on a recording file list screen currently beingdisplayed is performed. When a negative judgment result is obtained, thecontrol unit 20 proceeds to step S905 described later. On the otherhand, when an affirmative judgment result is obtained, the control unit20 proceeds to step S902.

In step S902, the control unit 20 moves the cursor 120 to a position ofa list item of another recording file and display the cursor 120according to the cursor moving operation. At this point, when the audiotitle list window 113 is displayed in a list item in which the cursor120 is arranged before the movement of the cursor 120, the control unit20 erases the video title list window 113 according to the presentmovement of the cursor 120.

In step S903, the control unit 20 judges whether the audio file icon 102is displayed in a list item in which the cursor 120 is arrangedaccording to the present cursor movement. When a negative judgmentresult is obtained, the control unit 20 returns to step S901. When anaffirmative judgment result is obtained, the control unit 20 proceeds tostep S904.

In step S904, with reference to the artist list table stored in thememory unit 21, the control unit 20 identifies content of an associatedaudio file for a recording file (a selection object recording file)indicated by the list item in which the cursor 120 is currentlyarranged. The control unit 20 creates, on the basis of a result of thisidentification, display image data of the audio title list window 113for the selection object recording file. The control unit 20 executes,using this display image data, display control processing to display theaudio title list window 113 on the recording file list screen in asuperimposing manner in, for example, the display form shown in FIG.12B.

In step S905, the control unit 20 judges whether selection anddetermination operation for an audio title is performed as operation forthe audio title list window 113 currently displayed. At a stage ofprocessing in step S905, the audio title list window 112 is notdisplayed in some case (e.g., the cursor 12 is not arranged in “drama A”in FIGS. 12A and 12B). However, in this case, in step S905, the controlunit 20 outputs a negative judgment result.

When an affirmative judgment result is obtained in step S905, thecontrol unit 20 proceeds to step S906. In step S906, the control unit 20outputs a request for start of reproduction of an audio filecorresponding to the audio title selected and determined in step S905and leaves the processing shown in the figure. A flow of this processingcorresponds to the transition from FIG. 12B to FIG. 12E.

On the other hand, when a negative judgment result is obtained in stepS905, the control unit 20 proceeds to step S907.

In step S907, the control unit 20 judges whether selection anddetermination operation for a recording file title on the recording filelist screen is performed. When an affirmative judgment result isobtained, the control unit 20 proceeds to step S908. In step S908, thecontrol unit 20 outputs a request for start of reproduction of arecording file corresponding to the selected and determined recordingfile title and leaves the processing shown in the figure. A flow of thisprocessing corresponds to the transition from the recording file listscreen to audio file reproduction shown in FIG. 12C.

When a negative judgment result is obtained in step S907, in step S909,the control unit 20 judges whether operation for invoking display ofanother interface screen other than the recording file list screen isperformed. When it is judged that operation is not specificallyperformed and a negative judgment result is obtained, the control unit20 returns to step S901. On the other hand, when an affirmative judgmentresult is obtained, in step S910, the control unit 20 executes necessarycontrol processing for displaying the another interface screendesignated by the operation performed in step S909.

The flowchart in FIG. 20 shows an example of a processing procedure forstarting reproduction of a recording file involving display of the videoplay screen shown in FIG. 11E, FIG. 12C, or the like. The processingshown in the figure is processing responding to the request for start ofreproduction of the recording file outputted in step S406 in FIG. 14,step S604 in FIG. 16, step S908 in FIG. 19, and the like.

First, in step S1001, the control unit 20 waits for the request forstart of reproduction of the recording file to be obtained. When therequest for start of reproduction of the recording file is obtained, thecontrol unit 20 shifts to a procedure in step S1002 and subsequentsteps.

In step S1002, the control unit 20 starts reproduction and output of therecording file designated by the request for start of reproduction ofthe recording file obtained in step S1001. The control unit 20 reads outthe recording file designated by the request for start of reproductionof the recording file from the storing unit 12 and executes reproductioncontrol to perform decoding processing by the reproduction processingunit 22 and reproduction and output with images and sound after thedecoding processing.

The control unit 20 also executes, simultaneously with the processing instep S1002, processing for displaying the video play screen shown inFIG. 11A or FIG. 12C according to the procedure in steps S1003 to S1006.

First, in step S1003, the control unit 20 identifies, from the artistlist table, content of an associated audio file in a table list of anartist for which a recording file (ID) to be currently reproduced isstored in an associated recording file. In step S1004, the control unit20 judges whether there is an audio file ID registered in the associatedaudio file as a result of the identification.

When it is judged that the audio file ID is registered and anaffirmative judgment result is obtained in step S1004, the control unit20 proceeds to step S1005. In step S1005, the control unit 20 executesdisplay control processing for displaying the video play screen on whichthe audio file icon 102 is displayed as shown in FIG. 12C.

On the other hand, when a negative judgment result is obtained in stepS1004, the control unit 20 executes display control processing fordisplaying a video play screen without the audio file icon 102.

The flowchart in FIG. 21 shows an example of a processing procedureresponding to a case in which, for example, as shown as the transitionfrom FIG. 12C to FIG. 12D and from FIG. 12D to FIG. 12E or thetransition from FIG. 11E to FIG. 11F and from FIG. 11F to FIG. 11C, theaudio title window 113 is displayed and an instruction for reproductionof an audio title is given as operation for the video play screen onwhich the audio file icon 102 is displayed.

First, in step S1101, in a state in which the video play screen on whichthe audio file icon 102 is displayed is displayed on the display screenunit 19A as shown in FIG. 12C, the control unit 20 waits for operationfor invoking the audio title list window 113 to be performed. Forexample, as explained above, when operation equivalent to click on theaudio file icon 102 on the video play screen is performed, the controlunit proceeds from step S1101 to step S1102.

In step S1102, first, the control unit 20 acquires, with reference toscheduling key information of recording file associated metadata of arecording file (ID) to be currently reproduced, an artist ID registeredin the scheduling key information. Then, the control unit 20 capturescontent stored in an associated audio file of the acquired artist IDfrom the artist list table. The control unit 20 creates display imagedata of the audio file list window 113 using an audio file ID capturedfrom the associated audio file and displays the display image data onthe video play screen in a superimposing manner.

In step S1103, the control unit 20 waits for audio title selection anddetermination operation for the audio file list window 113 to beperformed. In this case, as in the case described above, for example,while the control unit 20 waits for audio title selection anddetermination operation in step S1103, when a command for erasing theaudio file list window 113 is outputted because, for example, a fixedtime has elapsed without specific operation or operation for erasing theaudio file list window 113, the control unit 20 executes display controlto erase the display of the audio file list window 113.

When a judgment result that audio title selection and determinationoperation is performed is obtained in step S1103, in step S1104, thecontrol unit 20 outputs a request for start of reproduction of an audiofile corresponding to the selected and determined audio title. Inresponse to this request for start of reproduction of the audio file, asexplained above with reference to FIG. 15, reproduction of the requestedaudio file and display of a music play screen following the reproductionare performed. In this way, the transition from recording filereproduction to audio file reproduction shown in FIG. 12D to FIG. 12E orFIG. 11F to FIG. 11C is realized.

A computer program executed by the CPU of the control unit 20 in orderto realize the processing in the flowcharts explained above is stored inthe storing unit 12 in advance as explained above. Besides, it is alsoconceivable to store the computer program in the storing unit 12 byinstalling the computer program from, for example, a personal computerconnected through the data interface 11. Alternatively, it isconceivable to provide a driving corresponding to a storage medium of apredetermined removable format in the portable content player 1 and,then, store the computer program in the storing unit 12 by installingthe computer program from this storage medium. It is also conceivable tostore the computer program in a storage device in a server or the likeon a network and, then, give a network function to the portable contentplayer 1 itself, download to acquire the computer program from theserver, and install the computer program.

Processing procedures for realizing reproduction of a recording file andan audio file, the structure of the various list tables that should beused in processing, and the like according to the embodiment are notlimited to those explained with reference to the flowcharts, the datastructure diagrams, and the like and can be changed as appropriate.

For example, as an artist associated rating point used for specifying aprogram that should be scheduled-recorded, as indicated as steps S4 andS5 in FIG. 5, an average of file associated rating points of all tablelists having a common artist ID (artist name) as an attribute item iscalculated from the audio file metadata table. However, the significanceof the artist associated rating point is to indicate a degree ofimportance and a degree of interest for the user concerning each ofartists as numerical values. Therefore, a method of calculating theartist associated rating point is not limited to the calculation of anaverage and may be, for example, calculation by simple addition of fileassociated rating points.

As information that should be used for calculation of an artistassociated rating point, information other than a file associated ratingpoint is conceivable.

For example, first, as attribute information for each of audio files(e.g., attribute information stored for each list tables of the audiofile metadata table), information indicating the number of times theaudio file is reproduced so far in the portable content player 1(number-of-times-of-reproduction information) is included. Thenumber-of-times-of-reproduction information of all table lists havingthe common artist ID (artist name) as an attribute item is collected anda predetermined algorithm and arithmetic operation are performed usingvalues of the collected number-of-times-of-reproduction information toobtain an artist associated rating point.

In most of audio content players, reproduction by a so-called playlistis possible. The play list is a reproduction instruction informationunit for an audio file that the user creates, after selecting arbitraryaudio files from audio files (music titles) stored in the storing unit12, by arbitrarily setting reproduction order of the audio files. Forthe user, the play list is treated like an album that the user createsby himself/herself. For example, the user can create such a play list asmany as necessary, select a play list in the same manner as selecting analbum, and reproduce an audio file in the play list.

Consequently, it can be said that preference of the user related to themusic titles is reflected on content of the audio files (the musictitles) registered in the play list. For example, it can be understoodthat the music titles registered in the play list are music titles thatthe user likes. It can be assumed that, in the play list, for example, amusic title in earlier reproduction order has a higher degree ofpreference for the user. Thus, it is conceivable to use metadataconcerning music registered in the play list as parameters forcalculating an artist associated rating point.

As explained above, an audio file stored in the storing unit 12 of theportable content player 1 is transferred by an audio content managementapplication installed in a personal computer or the like through theexternal data interface 11. Then, it can be considered that, forexample, as a date and time when an audio file was transferred is closerto the present, a degree of interest of the user in the audio file ishigher. Therefore, it is conceivable to have information on a date andtime of transfer (transfer date and time information) as metadatarelated to each of audio files and use this transfer date and timeinformation as a parameter for calculating an artist associated ratingpoint.

Moreover, it is also conceivable to perform an arithmetic operationconforming to a predetermined rule to calculate an artist associatedrating point using plural parameters selected out of the file associatedrating point, the number-of-times-of reproduction information, the playlist content, the transfer date and time information, and the like.

In the embodiment described above, the artist associated rating point isused for specifying a program that should be scheduled-recorded. Inother words, a program that should be scheduled-recorded is specifiedwith an artist name in which the user is highly interested as a keyword. However, as an attribute item of an audio file that should be usedas a keyword is not limited to this. For example, an album title, amusic title, and the like can also be adopted.

In the embodiment described above, recording schedule setting for aspecified program is automatically performed as an operation performedby using a result of specifying a broadcast-scheduled program in whichthe user is highly interested. However, operations other than this arealso conceivable.

For example, when there is a list item of an artist used as a keywordfor specifying a program in an artist list screen, informationconcerning the specified program (broadcast-scheduled programinformation) is displayed in association with this list item. Forexample, as the video title list window 112 shown in FIG. 11B, a list ofspecified programs is presented and displayed. As contents that shouldbe displayed as the broadcast-scheduled program information, necessaryinformation only has to be selected from information stored by programunit information in an EPG such as a program title, a channel, abroadcast time frame, and program content taking into account a displaysize and the like of the broadcast-scheduled program information. Bylooking at such broadcast-scheduled program information, the user canlearn in advance that a program in which an artist is highly interestedis in a broadcast schedule and also learn information concerning theprogram. When the keyword for specifying a program is an album title ora music title, in the same manner as described above, thebroadcast-scheduled program information can be displayed on the albumtitle list screen, the music title list screen, or the like.

When operation for selecting and determining a program indicated in thebroadcast-scheduled program information is performed on the artist listscreen, the album title list screen, and the music title list screen onwhich the broadcast-scheduled program information is displayed asdescribed above, it is conceivable to make it possible to performscheduled recording setting for the selected and determined program. Asituation in which the selected and determined program is al ready beingbroadcasted is anticipated. However, in such a case, it is conceivableto receive the selected and determined program and reproduce and outputvideos and sound of the program.

When an electronic program guide based on EPG data is normally displayedon the display screen unit 19A, it is also conceivable to additionallydisplay, in association with a display space of a specified broadcastscheduled program, an icon indicating that the program is highlyimportant for the user. In this case, when a keyword for specifying thebroadcast scheduled program is an artist name, it is simpler andvisually enjoyable if an artist is indicated by a pattern of an icon.When the keyword is an album title or a music title, a pattern of anicon indicating an album or music is used.

It is also conceivable to make it possible to create, as the electronicprogram guide, an image for presenting only a specified programscheduled to be broadcasted and display the image.

The information processing apparatus to which the present invention isapplied is not limited to the portable content player according to theembodiment described above. For example, the present invention can alsobe applied to a cellular phone and the like that can store and reproduceaudio and video contents and can receive a television broadcast such asthe 1 seg. The present invention is not limited to portable apparatuses.The present invention can also be applied to, for example, a car audioapparatus and a stationary apparatus. In this connection, a televisionbroadcast receiving function that the information processing apparatusshould have is not limited to the 1 seg broadcast. The televisionbroadcast receiving function may be applicable to, for example, a normaldigital or analog terrestrial broadcast, a satellite broadcast, and aCATV. Moreover, for example, the information processing apparatus may beused for not only the television broadcast but also a radio broadcastand the like.

It should be understood by those skilled in the art that variousmodifications, combinations, sub-combinations, and alterations may occurdepending on design requirements and other factors insofar as they arewithin the scope of the appended claims or the equivalents thereof.

1-21. (canceled)
 22. An information processing apparatus comprisingphysical circuitry which is configured to: compare an artist name ofcontent data and program guide information to identify at least aprogram which is related to the artist name; cause a display device todisplay a first indicator indicating that the program is available; andin response to a selection of the first indicator, cause the displaydevice to display a title of the program.
 23. The information processingapparatus according to claim 22, wherein the circuitry is furtherconfigured to cause a reproduction device to reproduce the program ifthe title of the program is selected.
 24. The information processingapparatus according to claim 23, wherein the circuitry is furtherconfigured to: cause the display device to display a program-reproducingscreen when reproducing the program; cause the display device to displaya second indicator in the program-reproducing screen to indicate thataudio data related to the artist is available; and in response to aselection of the second indicator, cause the display device to display atitle of the audio data related to the artist in the program-reproducingscreen.
 25. The information processing apparatus according to claim 24,wherein the circuitry is further configured to cause the reproductiondevice to reproduce the audio data if the title of the audio data isselected.
 26. The information processing apparatus according to claim25, wherein the circuitry is further configured to cause the displaydevice to display an audio-reproducing screen; cause the display deviceto display a third indicator in the screen to indicate that the programrelated to the artist is available; in response to a selection of thethird indicator, cause the display device to display the title of theprogram in the audio-reproducing screen; and cause the reproductiondevice to reproduce the program if the title of the program is selected.27. An information processing method comprising the steps of: comparing,by physical circuitry, an artist name of content data and program guideinformation to identify at least a program which is related to theartist name; causing, by the circuitry, a display device to display afirst indicator indicating that the program is available; and inresponse to a selection of the first indicator, causing, by thecircuitry, the display device to display a title of the program.
 28. Theinformation processing method according to claim 27, further comprisingthe steps of: causing, by the circuitry, a reproduction device toreproduce the program if the title of the program is selected.
 29. Theinformation processing method according to claim 28, further comprisingthe steps of: causing, by the circuitry, the display device to display aprogram-reproducing screen when reproducing the program; causing, by thecircuitry, the display device to display a second indicator in theprogram-reproducing screen to indicate that audio data related to theartist is available; and in response to a selection of the secondindicator, causing, by the circuitry, the display device to display atitle of the audio data related to the artist in the program-reproducingscreen.
 30. The information processing method according to claim 29,further comprising the steps of: causing, by the circuitry, thereproduction device to reproduce the audio data if the title of theaudio data is selected.
 31. The information processing method accordingto claim 30, further comprising the steps of: causing, by the circuitry,the display device to display an audio-reproducing screen; causing, bythe circuitry, the display device to display a third indicator in thescreen to indicate that the program related to the artist is available;in response to a selection of the third indicator, causing, by thecircuitry, the display device to display the title of the program in theaudio-reproducing screen; and causing, by the circuitry, thereproduction device to reproduce the program if the title of the programis selected.
 32. A non-transitory recording medium storing instructionswhich, when executed by a computer, cause the computer to execute:comparing an artist name of content data and program guide informationto identify at least a program which is related to the artist name;causing a display device to display a first indicator indicating thatthe program is available; and in response to a selection of the firstindicator, causing the display device to display a title of the program.33. The non-transitory recording medium according to claim 32, whereinthe instructions further cause the computer to execute: causing areproduction device to reproduce the program if the title of the programis selected.
 34. The non-transitory recording medium according to claim33, wherein the instructions further cause the computer to execute:causing the display device to display a program-reproducing screen whenreproducing the program; causing the display device to display a secondindicator in the program-reproducing screen to indicate that audio datarelated to the artist is available; and in response to a selection ofthe second indicator, causing the display device to display a title ofthe audio data related to the artist in the program-reproducing screen.35. The non-transitory recording medium according to claim 34, whereinthe instructions further cause the computer to execute: causing thereproduction device to reproduce the audio data if the title of theaudio data is selected.
 36. The non-transitory recording mediumaccording to claim 35, wherein the instructions further cause thecomputer to execute: causing the display device to display anaudio-reproducing screen; causing the display device to display a thirdindicator in the screen to indicate that the program related to theartist is available; in response to a selection of the third indicator,causing the display device to display the title of the program in theaudio-reproducing screen; and causing the reproduction device toreproduce the program if the title of the program is selected.